Living in The Philippines > Languages, Learning History, Politics etc.

Getting a grasp of Philippines politics

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Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am:
There just maybe some unscrupulous and dishonest Filipinos lurking on forums and if a post catches their eye that could be construed as Filipino bashing, it could just be enough grounds for the Filipino reader or the Politician's and or influential relatives to file a suit of "defamation of character" against the poster of the article on any forum no matter how slight the contents were expressed. It's not all too far fetch, because this could happen and it does happen! So, as a foreigner in a foreign land, it behooves not to mention any names of politicians and or influential people on any forum!
JD's post below mentioned a politician's name with an accusation/assumption statement even if it's hearsay/2nd hand news already in the news media and should be deleted for just self protection to avoid a complaint of "defamation of character" charges, but still a complaint that is now considered a criminal offense!
So, take it for what it's worth to those on here reading this post of mine! It's just to let members to be aware of this Cyber Crime Law in the Philippines, which just went into effect two years ago!
So, don't shoot the messenger even if anyone on here do not agree with MHOs and or POVs even though I've provided reliable links to backup my comments!   

Right now I'm following the Makati carpark story where the former Vice Mayor of Makati has claimed that if he got kickbacks, the former mayor (now VP Binay) must have gotten kickbacks too. The former Vice Mayor isn't providing any proof of even himself getting kickbacks, but the press reports it all so very seriously.

http://www.techinasia.com/philippines-cybercrime-law-effect-punishing-online-libel-constitutional/

Philippines’ Cybercrime Law now in effect, punishing online libel is constitutional

The Philippines’ Supreme Court today ruled on the CyberCrime Prevention Act of 2012, or RA 10175, and the constitutionality of most of its provisions. Punishing online libel was declared constitutional. But despite being constitutional, it will be on the condition that only the original author will be held liable. It will not penalize the receiver of the post, or those who react to the post. In September 2012, President Benigno Aquino signed the Cybercrime bill into law. Following this, citizens went to social media sites to express their outrage about the online libel provision, which they argue would force citizens to limit what they post on social media sites and other online platforms.

coleman2347:
I seriously doubt you could be sued for repeating whats all over the news, or that my opinion would even count to anybody in the Philippines with the possible exception of something very local..

Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am:
Here's the description below of the libel or oral defamation law of the Philippines, which the existing Cyber Crime Law was just implemented 2 years ago IMO just to add more to these ridiculous unreasonable/illogical/irrational/petty laws of the Philippines!
If I was an honest/practical judge, I would just consider these libel or defamation laws trivial and treat them as a nuisance cases of a misdemeanor class and not a criminal offense or just throw out the cases/claims automatically, if they do not have any merit or are non-justifiable claims and just press on with other important cases/issues!       

http://kellywarnerlaw.com/philippines-defamation-laws/

DEFAMATION LAWS IN PHILIPPINES

Under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, libel is defined “as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission , condition, status or circumstance tending to cause dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is dead.” In libel, publication is a requirement, which must be in writing or similar means. On the other hand, slander constitutes oral defamation under Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code. Libel and slander are punishable by imprisonment (prision correccional)

In a criminal offense of libel, truth may be given in evidence if it appears that the matter charged as libelous is true and that it was published with good motives and with justifiable ends (Please see 361 of the Revised Penal Code). Under Article 354 of the Penal Code, a fair and true report made in good faith without remarks or comments of any official proceedings which are not confidential in nature. If remarks and comments, under Article 354 are made with malice, such comments and remarks will not exempt the author, publisher, editor or managing editor of a newspaper from criminal liability.

In the Philippines, criminal and civil action for damages may be filed simultaneously or separately in the Court where the libelous article is printed and first published, or where any of the offended parties actually resides at the time of the commission of the offense. (See Article 360 of the Revised Penal Code).

JD:
No solar, no dog, no politics. Got it.

fred:
Hang on!! When I spoke about eating dogs by accident it was back in the 1980`s when it was still legal.
Since then I have never eaten one and remain a law abiding citizen(almost) in the republic of the Philippines! ..And proud.

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